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Skills

R
RMarkdown
SPSS
Shiny Dashboards
Python
Jupyter Notebooks
SQL
NoSQL

Main

Karla Fettich, PhD

I am enthusiastic about using my skills, expertise and time to make a lasting positive impact in the community. Professionally, my work seeks to improve healthcare for aging individuals, and has earned an Excellence in Technology Award for Dignity in Long-Term Care. Personally, I coordinate efforts to increase diversity in the Philadelphia data science community, reduce the number of homeless animals in the city and facilitate care and recovery for those experiencing opioid addiction.

Education

I speak several languages including German (native), Romanian (native), French (basic) and Spanish (basic).

PhD, Psychology Neuroscience

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA

2016 - 2011

MA, Social Sciences (Psychology)

The University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

2009 - 2008

BA, Psychology

Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen, Germany

2005 - 2002

Professional Experience

Senior Data Scientist

AmeriHealth Caritas

Newtown Square, PA

present - 2021

  • Developed machine learning models in R for risk stratification of CHC members, including both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
  • Conducted exploratory data mining analyses, created insights decks and presentations to internal clients, and led a collaborative analytics project
  • Improved analytics efficiency by reducing meeting overhead, automating workflows, developing solutions to move away from legacy systems, and coordinating with other teams to facilitate access to needed tools
  • Led knowledge-sharing sessions on modern tools in data science for colleagues across multiple teams

Head of Analytics & Algorithm Development

Orchestrall, Inc.

Conshohocken, PA

2021 - 2015

  • Lead healthcare data science consulting projects to derive insights from clinical data and multidisciplinary teams
  • Develop and test predictive models for operational implementation
  • Select optimal tools for statistical modeling, including decision trees, logistic regression, conditional inference forests, multiple imputation
  • Develop algorithms to power intelligent healthcare applications for the senior care market, including outcome prediction, anomaly detection, and logistics optimization
  • Conduct end-to-end analyses including study design, data identification/collection, ETL, analysis, and communication of findings
  • Implement analytical models into production through collaborations with the software development team

Leadership

I enjoy learning via hands-on projects that have a real and positive impact, and I seek to create opportunities to make this type of learning available to the wider community.

Project Leader

PAWS Data Pipeline

Code for Philly

present - 2019

  • Lead a team to create a 360-degree view of PAWS’ constituents to help development and operations
  • Work closely with project management team, peer data scientists, engineers, developers and Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society representatives to build a data lake
  • Oversee team efforts in data processing, cleansing, and verifying data integrity

Organizer

R-Ladies Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

present - 2018

  • Work to increase gender diversity in the data science community in Philadelphia
  • Create learning, networking and leadership opportunities for over 1000 members via monthly meetups focused on R and collaborations with other data groups in the city

Lead Datathon Organizer

Collaborate with non-profit organizations to articulate business questions, translate them into viable analytics projects for volunteer data scientists; coordinate the volunteer effort, and help data scientists translate their findings into into clear and actionable business insights

Philadelphia, PA

present - 2018

Research

Graduate Research Assistant

Neurocognition Lab

Temple University

2016 - 2013

  • Introduced and applied machine learning techniques (e.g. support vector machines, multivoxel pattern analysis, graph theory, network analysis) and high performance computing tools
  • Assessed new data sources for value creation, attracting new research opportunities through a large, multi-site research network
  • Evaluated and communicated technical advantages and tradeoffs between statistical models
  • Solved difficult, non-routine analysis problems using large, complex data sets

Graduate Clinical Research Assistant

Mechanisms of Affect Dysregulation Lab

Temple University

2013 - 2011

  • Supported and executed a wide range of clinical psychology studies including survey research, clinical treatment trials, neuroimaging studies, and secondary data research
  • Designed and conducted a neuroimaging research study assessing affective risk factors in clinical populations
  • Collaborated with the research coordinator, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as researchers from other sites to deliver high-quality peer-reviewed publications and academic conference presentations

Lead Clinical Research Coordinator

Adult Eating and Weight Disorders Clinic

The University of Chicago

2011 - 2009

  • Planned and conducted statistical analyses of cross-sectional, time series, epidemiological, health outcomes and clinical data
  • Optimized clinical participant recruitment and retention through data analytics
  • Coordinated recruitment, screening, intake, assessment, treatment and follow-up stages several research projects, including a large NIMH-funded clinical trial and pilot studies using psychophysiological data (fMRI, RSA)
  • Contributed to manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed publications and gave conference presentations

I have extensive experience with academic research, including clinical trials and studies using neuroimaging and psychophysiological data.

Teaching

Graduate Teaching Assistant and Lab Instructor

Statistics

Temple University

2014

  • Taught weekly introductory statistics lab sections (75 undergraduate students) with positive student feedback
  • Provided one-on-one tutoring and exam preparation on an as-needed basis
  • Administered and corrected exams and liaised between students and the course instructor

Continuing Education

Health Insurance

AHIP

Online

present - 2021

  • Professional, Health Insurance Advanced Studies (in progress)

Data Science

Coursera

Online

2021

Volunteer Work

Volunteer, Mentor

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Philadelphia, PA

present - 2016

Selected Publications

Disclaimer

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Last updated on 2021-08-30.